STILL, protecting yourself goes beyond clicking a few settings. This is where mindfulness comes in. Ask yourself why you are logging on. Is it to check on friends, or to seek validation for a bad day? The more aware you are of your motives, the less likely you will spiral into comparison or rage. This habit echoes an old principle of reflective living: notice the stirring within before reacting to the noise without.
And if all else fails, take a break. Digital detox is not a trend; it is a coping strategy. A study by the University of Pennsylvania found that students who limited social media to 30 minutes a day reported reduced depression and loneliness. A former co-teacher I know, juggling multiple subjects, said she reclaimed her sanity by only checking Facebook after dinner. “I used to scroll during lunch, but I realized I was digesting negativity instead of food,” she quipped.
But let us be fair. Sometimes the ‘toxic’ individual is going through something too. Not an excuse for poor behavior, but an understanding that bitterness is often the result of pain. Hurt people hurt other people, and nobody edits empathy out online. A former friend once criticized my public gratitude post for a short scholarship abroad. Years later, she admitted it was hard for her to read anything joyful when her own plans were falling apart. Her apology came late, but it came.
This does not mean we must put up with passive-aggressive lectures disguised as comments. But it does mean we can choose compassion over combustion. Sometimes, the most radical act is not to clap back, but to disengage and move on. Say less, scroll faster, live better. No one has ever changed a diva by arguing with them in the comment section.
Social media is not toxic by default. It reflects the tone we bring into it. But its algorithm does amplify extremes. The more the outrage is heard, the greater the visibility it attains. This is the reason why feed curation, careful use of time, and investments in offline friendships are still the best practices. Surround yourself with people who celebrate quietly, laugh deeply, and love without needing to “react.”
To teachers, students, and professionals juggling deadlines, emotional labor, and social noise, remember: your digital space is your garden. Weed it as often as necessary. Block the pests. Prune the dry connections. Water the friendships that nourish. As one Ignatian insight suggests: choose what brings genuine consolation, not fleeting stimulation. Know what uplifts your soul, not just your stats.
So next time someone dumps their bitterness in your celebration post and at-the-moment stories, or sneers at your small wins and “everything is grace” prayers, remember this: you are not obligated to host everyone in your joy. You can keep your peace private or post it in public at your heart’s desire satisfaction. You can draw a line. You can walk away or feature it nonetheless. And you can do it either way with dignity, not drama.
When the feed turns foul, choose your scrolls like you choose your battles—not every post needs a reply, and not every troll deserves a stage.
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Doc H fondly describes himself as a ”student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with./PN
